10M16SAU169C8G Datasheet, Pinout, Specifications & Application Guide | Intel MAX 10 FPGA

The 10M16SAU169C8G is an Intel (Altera) MAX 10 FPGA featuring 16,000 logic elements, an integrated 12-bit ADC with up to 18 analog input channels, and dual configuration flash memory in a compact 169-ball UBGA package. Built on 55nm flash-based process technology, the "SA" variant operates from a single 3.3V power supply with internal voltage regulators, delivering instant-on non-volatile operation ideal for industrial automation, sensor fusion, and IoT edge computing. This comprehensive guide covers its pinout, key specifications, block diagram, and real-world application circuits to help engineers evaluate and integrate the 10M16SAU169C8G into their next design.

Overview & Key Features

The 10M16SAU169C8G belongs to the Intel MAX 10 FPGA family, the industry's first single-chip programmable logic device to integrate flash memory, analog-to-digital conversion, and configurable I/O in a non-volatile FPGA architecture. Unlike SRAM-based FPGAs, the MAX 10 retains its configuration in on-chip flash, enabling instant-on operation without an external configuration device.

Key features of the 10M16SAU169C8G include:

• 16,000 Logic Elements (LEs) — sufficient for complex digital designs including Nios II soft processors, protocol bridges, and multi-channel sensor interfaces
• Integrated 12-bit ADC — 1 MSPS sampling rate with up to 18 analog input channels, eliminating the need for an external ADC IC
• 549 Kb Embedded SRAM — M9K memory blocks configurable as RAM, ROM, or FIFO for high-bandwidth data buffering
• 2,304 Kb User Flash Memory (UFM) — on-chip non-volatile storage for calibration data, firmware, or configuration parameters
• Dual Configuration Flash — supports dual-image boot for remote update and fail-safe fallback operation
• Single 3.3V Supply — internal voltage regulators generate the 1.2V core supply, simplifying power design
• Instant-On Operation — non-volatile configuration flash allows the FPGA to be operational within milliseconds of power-up

The MAX 10 family is supported by Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition, a free development environment that includes synthesis, place-and-route, simulation, and programming tools. For related Intel FPGA devices, see our guides on the 10M08SAE144C8G and 10M04SCE144C8G.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Value
Manufacturer	Intel (Altera)
Family	MAX 10 FPGA
Part Number	10M16SAU169C8G
Logic Elements (LEs)	16,000
Embedded Memory (M9K)	549 Kb
User Flash Memory (UFM)	2,304 Kb
18×18 Multipliers	45
PLLs	4
ADC Blocks	1 (12-bit SAR, 1 MSPS)
Analog Input Channels	Up to 18
Maximum User I/O Pins	130
Maximum LVDS Pairs	22
I/O Standards	3.3V LVTTL, 1.0–3.3V LVCMOS, SSTL, HSTL, HSUL, LVDS
External Memory Interface	DDR2, DDR3, LPDDR2, SRAM
Package	169-ball UBGA (Ultra-thin Ball Grid Array)
Package Dimensions	11 mm × 11 mm
Core Voltage (VCC)	1.2V (internally regulated)
PLL Supply (VCCA)	2.5V
I/O Voltage (VCCIO)	1.2V / 1.5V / 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V (bank-selectable)
Process Technology	55 nm Flash
Speed Grade	C8 (commercial, standard speed)
Temperature Range	0°C to 85°C (commercial)
Configuration	Dual-image internal flash, JTAG
RoHS Compliant	Yes (Pb-free, “G” suffix)

Pinout & Package Information

The 10M16SAU169C8G is housed in a 169-ball Ultra-thin Ball Grid Array (UBGA) measuring 11 mm × 11 mm. The compact BGA footprint makes it suitable for space-constrained designs such as wearables, IoT modules, and small-form-factor industrial controllers. The 130 user I/O pins are organized across multiple I/O banks, each independently configurable for different voltage standards.

Pin Categories:

• VCC — 1.2V core supply (internally regulated in SA variant from 3.3V input)
• VCCIO — I/O bank supply voltage (3.3V typical, bank-selectable from 1.2V to 3.3V)
• VCCA / VCCD_PLL — 2.5V PLL analog and digital supply pins
• ANAIN1–ANAIN8 — dedicated analog input pins for the integrated 12-bit ADC
• CLK[0..3] — dedicated clock input pins routed to global clock networks
• JTAG (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) — programming and debug interface
• nSTATUS, nCONFIG, CONF_DONE — configuration status and control pins
• GND — ground pins distributed throughout the BGA for signal integrity

For the complete pin assignment table, use the Intel Quartus Prime Pin Planner tool or download the official MAX 10 FPGA pin-out files.

Block Diagram & Architecture

The MAX 10 FPGA architecture integrates programmable logic, embedded memory, clock management, analog-to-digital conversion, and configuration flash into a single monolithic die. The block diagram below illustrates the architecture of the LimeSDR-Mini, a popular software-defined radio board that uses the 10M16SAU169C8G as its primary FPGA:

Architecture Highlights:

• Logic Array Blocks (LABs) — each LAB contains 16 Adaptive Logic Modules (ALMs) implementing combinational and sequential logic
• M9K Memory Blocks — configurable as single-port RAM, dual-port RAM, ROM, or FIFO for high-speed data buffering
• 18×18 Multiplier Blocks — 45 hardware multipliers for DSP applications including FIR filters and FFT computations
• 4 PLLs — general-purpose phase-locked loops for clock synthesis, multiplication, division, and phase shifting
• ADC Block — single 12-bit SAR ADC with multiplexed analog inputs and internal temperature sensor
• Configuration Flash Memory (CFM) — stores up to two FPGA configuration images for instant-on and remote update
• User Flash Memory (UFM) — 2,304 Kb of general-purpose non-volatile storage accessible from the FPGA fabric

Application Circuit & Design Guide

The 10M16SAU169C8G is used in a wide range of applications including software-defined radio, industrial control, motor drives, sensor hubs, and IoT edge devices. The LimeSDR-Mini development board shown below is a notable application of this FPGA, providing a complete SDR platform:

Typical Application Areas:

• Software-Defined Radio (SDR) — the LimeSDR-Mini pairs the 10M16SAU169C8G with a LMS7002M RF transceiver for full-duplex 10 MHz–3.5 GHz operation
• Sensor Fusion & Data Acquisition — the integrated ADC enables direct connection of analog sensors without external ADC ICs, reducing BOM cost
• Motor Control — hardware PWM generation combined with ADC feedback creates a compact single-chip motor controller
• Protocol Bridge / Interface Conversion — implement SPI-to-I2C, UART-to-Ethernet, or custom serial protocol converters
• IoT Edge Processing — Nios II soft processor combined with the ADC enables edge analytics and local decision-making

Power Supply Design Tips:

• Use the single 3.3V supply configuration (SA variant) to minimize power rails and simplify PCB routing
• Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors on each VCC and VCCIO pin, with a bulk 10 µF capacitor near each voltage regulator
• Enable the internal oscillator for applications that do not require high clock accuracy, eliminating an external crystal
• Leverage dual-image configuration flash for over-the-air firmware updates with automatic fallback to a known-good image

Video Tutorial: Getting Started with Intel MAX 10 FPGA

For more FPGA development resources, explore our guides on Xilinx Artix-7 XC7A35T-1CPG236C and other popular FPGA devices.

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